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Thread III: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1311311/posts |
Posted on 09/18/2004 6:56:23 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the last thread, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
That first picture is a hackamore and IS a bit, it just dosen't have a mouth piece.
I'm not sure what your thinking is on why you would not want to train with a mouth piece. Do you consider it mean/uncomforable for the horse...????
Becky
It is called a bitless bridle, I can see where a bit would help, and James has used one on Misty, i am just not used to them. He told me that Lightning has had one, but mainly he uses the other. I guess it all depends on the horse, and also where you are riding like you said. I do not have an aversion to them, just like to use the other.
Misty has spooked whilst not wearing one, but calmed down ok.
I'd love to see a picture.... pictures are worth a thousand words trying to describe something. If it looks like the first one, you actually have quite a bit of leverage with that. It is a more 'severe', i.e. more controlling bit than many mild bits and snaffles. The leverage depends on the tightness of the chin strap and the length of the metal shanks. It's a safe bit to control most horses, and can actually be abused in rough hands.
Riding with just a halter and lead rope might work just flopping around a paddock, but I would never take a horse outside an enclosure or out on trail that way, you just don't have enought control, and children would be nowhere near strong enough to be anything but a passenger if the horse spooked and ran away with them.
The best bit to use is one that is soft enough that they aren't oversensitive to it's touch, but that they respond to with very light pressure. It's more abusive to pull hard on a bit or device that is too soft, than it is to be light handed with a device that is just right for the horse.
Good Mornin'!
One day I was going to the arena and I decided to do some adjusting to the briddle straps. I started undoing stuff and then couldn't figure out what went back where. The bit wasn't straight anymore. Eddie tried to help but we had a patient horse with the biggest mess. My trainer walked over , looked, sighed, took the whole mess off and said "take your horse back to the barn, now and get those reins off the ground! I'm a trial to her. Just about the time she figures she has me trained.... I'm probably her biggest challenge but every now and then I'm starting to see a glimmer of respect lol.
Does your trainer shake her head back and forth real slow alot? ;~D
OK:).
Becky
Nah, she a heart clutcher. These were the early days. Humor showing up now. We are both more relaxed. We still disagree on some stuff but I have to understand my instincts aren't always as reliable as her experience:')
As for the briddle she took everthing apart and had Eddie and I rebuild it:')
To be fair, if I don't hand ecurbh his bridle all ready to go, he has to turn it around a few times to make heads or tails of it. They are sortof strange foreign devices. His hackamore he rides Cyn in is easier to figure out, I think, than my snaffle bridle. Fewer straps.
I just went to look, it isnt like the first one. It is from a place called the bitless bridle, and came with Misty. We have bits and use them, and whatever they are called they are the ones that are in two parts. I dont have a problem with bits at all, my friends dont use them and it will take a while to get used to them too. I can see if we go off our land we would need them.
I feel like i am justifying myself here, i didnt mean to offend anyone, i just asked if everyone used bits! :)
I still talk to my horse. I take the briddle by the head stall and shake the reins out and get it in place and tell her, Ok let's put your reins on first. Now this, ok now open your mouth, here let me fix your ears and adjust this strap". Lot's of days getting little ones dressed I guess:')
yes
I talk to mine all the time too............but as far as the tackle is concerned, i havent had the time or james the patience to show me! Its so nice to go out and have everything ready! LOL why change a good thing!~
Yesterday when she told me Sarah Lee bucked a couple of times "one time" when she had been cooped up and it was cold but stopped as soon as he yelled "whoa". I guess she thought I would trip or something. She asked me what I said when it happened with me. I told her I yelled "EDDIE"!. She said "well, she doesn't know Eddie. If you are going to use that word then I suggest you use "Eddie, whoa!" I thought that was funny.
LOL! I'd have screamed "James" too! ro "help"! When i first started riding, we went on a trail ride on borrowed horses, everyone else had these slim trail horses, mine looked like a cart horse. It was so tall and wide! I guess they knew i had had children LOL, whatever, whilst these little horses were eagerly following each other, mine took one look at the trail, saw a short cut through the woods and hey presto i was black and blue in a heart beat! Everyone thought it was so funny. This horse was apparantly know for its attitude. "thanks" I said. How i ever got on another beats me! LOL
Yeah but it's not going to help you in the long run IMO :') What are you going to do if no one around and you are out by yourself? Make them show you how to do it. Once you know how, then if they want to be gentlemanly and help you.... I want to do everything myself from saddling to grooming. You find stuff that way. Cuts, bites, runny eyes, sore spots, stones, cracks in heels etc. Before I get on my horse I have seen ever part of her and my tack. It does take me awhile though but I'm much faster than I used to be.
I know i need to and i eant to really, i was just kidding. I just havent had the time yet. Maybe when James parents go to the Lord, i will find a moment! Right now, just a chance to ride is the one that I will grab!
I don't like to try different horses. I want to be with the one I know, than the one I don't , warts and all. That's one of the reasons my she horse still around.
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